richter



A. RICHTER.

Self-teaching Perspective Apparatus. No 9,409. Patented Nov. 16, 18.52.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. RICHTER, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PERSPECTIVE-DRAWING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ADoLPHUs RICHTER, residing in the city, county, and State of New York more than one year next preceding, and having made oath of my intention to become a citizen of the United States of America, have invented a new and useful apparatus for delineating upon glass or other smooth transparent medium all natural and artificial objects, which I denominate a Self-Teaching Perspective Apparatus and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in a new and useful manner or method of delineating upon common unprepared glass or other transparent medium with the aid of a simple and cheap instrument consisting of a compound or composition of ink, a diminishing glass, chalk, &c., artificial and natural objects, and afterward transferring the same upon paper, canvas, stone, copper, wood, &c.

The accompanying drawing represents my instrument by which I am enabled to delineate objects, landscapes, flowers, insects, &c., without it being necessary for the operator to be acquainted with the rules of perspective.

It consists of a frame a, a, a, provided with a lid Z), which forms a drawer or box in which the ink, pens, glass, chalk, and diminishing glass are contained, constituting a portable and convenient apparatus for travelers. It is provided with hinged supports 5, Z), Z), Z), with grooves in them for supporting the glass upon which objects are delineated, these can be turned down out of the way when the instrument is not in use. It is further provided with holes parallel to each other for the insertion of pins 0, 0, for the glass to rest against when delineating small objects such as insects, flowers, &c., as in the position represented.

The fluid or ink by which I am enabled to draw upon smooth transparent glass fine and most delicate lines, and also shad-e upon it, is composed and made as followsI take linseed oil and while boiling mix and stir with it the soot of wood. I boil and stir this for several hours until it has acquired a proper consistency, then rub it on a stone with a muller, and finally dilute or thin it 9,409, dated November 16, 1852.

with spirits of turpentine to the proper consistency for drawing. When it is desired to draw distant objects such as landscapes &c. the glass d, is placed between the supports Z), 5, in a vertical position, and the point of sight must be fixed by placing the right eye opposite to the hole in the square or angle, f, in which there is a notch cut for the nose for the purpose of steadying the head while drawing. The eye must be kept steadily fixed viewing the objects to be delineated through the hole in the square. After a very little practice landscapes or other objects viewed through the glass can be sketched thereon. To destroy the glare and preserve the eyesight from injury a colored glass may be inserted in the hole in the square f. The outline of the object to be depicted may only be dotted on the transparent medium and a transfer made of it upon paper or canvas and the picture afterward finished up from this outline, or the picture may be com pleted upon the glass and afterward transferred upon paper canvas, stone, &c. The transfer ismade by merely moistening the side of the glass on which the picture is drawn with the breath and .pressing the paper or canvas upon it and burnishing it lightly over with a paper folder or the nail of the thumb.

IVhen it is desired to delineate small objects such as flowers, insects, &c., the glass is placed as represented in an inclined position and if it is desired to diminish such objects I use a diminishing glass. This diminishing glass consists of an accurately ground and polished double concave glass or lens which is fixed underneath the plane glass with two pills of beeswax by which one is enabled to reduce the object placed under neath 011 the lid of the instrument to the nicest miniature, and if the glass is perfect and the object placed in the center of it and parallel with the transparent medium there will be no aberatio-n to the image. It is apparent that objects can be magnified in the same manner.

The instrument as before stated is provided with two sets of supports Z), Z), 6, Z), hinged to the end and side of the frame, so that the glass can be placed in a vertical position on the side of the frame for a landscape as represented in the drawing in dotted lines, or it can be placed on the end when it is desired to draw a portrait or face of a person.

When it is desired to make drawings of interiors of buildings, &c., where there is not much light I make use of white chalk instead of the ink for drawing upon the glass. This French chalk will not mark upon the glass without the surface of the glass is previously prepared. I have discovered that by rubbing the surface of the glass with cigar ashes moistened with the breath and then rubbed again with some of the ashes dry the glass will take most readily the white chalk enabling one to draw fine or bold lines with it upon the glass which previously could not be marked upon with the chalk.

Having thus fully described my invention I would state that I am aware that natural and other objects have been traced through ADOLPI-I RICHTER.

Witnesses S. S. SMITH, H. H. YOUNG. 

